Stroke patients and their carers have been told their rehabilitation centre is to close.

The 18 patients and 41 staff could have to leave the ward at the Newhaven Rehabilitation Centre by Christmas.

One member of staff, who did not want to be named, said: "The trust has told us there are other jobs available but that's not the point.

"Some people have worked here for a long time.

"Our feelings are not being considered. This is all about cuts, as usual."

Another member of staff said: "Some patients have been there more than five years and some staff have been there 15 years.

"The centre was built only ten years ago after the old building was closed."

Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust is to consider a report on Wednesday making recommendations to stop admitting patients to 24 in-patient beds at the centre as a temporary measure to ease recruitment and financial pressures.

Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust and East Sussex County Healthcare NHS have already ended their contracts for 16 and 12 beds respectively on one ward.

By mothballing the remaining 24 beds, 18 of which are currently filled, the PCT would save an estimated £300,000 between January 1 and March 31 2006.

The trust has to identify around £2 million savings to balance its books by March 31.

If the proposal is agreed by the board, the trust says it would develop proposals to use the centre for more complex neurological rehabilitation.

The existing patients would be either relocated or discharged.

The trust says each patient and their family or carer would be fully involved in the arrangements.

Newhaven residents who need in-patient care after being discharged from the Royal Sussex County in Brighton or Princess Royal in Haywards Heath have been admitted to Meadow Lodge, part of Lewes Victoria Hospital, since July 17.

The trust says the service was introduced as part of the "best care, best place" strategy to provide in-patient care and treatment for residents who would otherwise have been admitted to Brighton General Hospital.

Meadow Lodge, together with expanded community rehabilitation for residents of the Havens and a new community rehabilitation team for Lewes residents, would meet the future needs of patients.

Other services at the Newhaven Rehabilitation Centre such as podiatry, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, outpatients, community rehabilitation, community nursing and mental health day services would not be affected and it is anticipated no staff would be made redundant.

The PCT says it has enough current vacancies in the community services, other community hospitals and healthcare at Lewes Prison to offer most affected staff a choice of positions.

The board meets in public on Wednesday at 1pm at its headquarters at 36-38 Friars Walk, Lewes.